Segways now allowed on the Rio Grande Trail

Should electric powered bicycles, Segways, Trikkes, and scooters be allowed on hiking and biking trails?

Should electric vehicles
be allowed on trails?

That is the current debate. How do we assure trail access to people with handicaps while still maintaining the pristine environment of the trail?

As you read this, legislators are wrestling with this issue. But local trail authorities are not waiting for a final answer. Some, like the Roaring Fork Transit Authority are taking steps to make trails more handicapped accessible. The RFTA is in charge of the Rio Grande Trail in western Colorado. The trail runs from Glenwood Springs, CO to Aspen, CO. They have decided to allow Segways on the trail; but only disabled trail-users who can prove their disability (if requested) are allowed to use electric-powered vehicles on the trail.

One of the major goals of trailsnet is to increase the visibility and usage of trails worldwide. That is why we mainly feature trails that are accessible to all ages and abilities. Providing trail access to those with disabilities is the right thing to do. Everyone should be able to use our wonderful network of trails.

Segways now allowed on the Rio Grande Trail

Idaho trails featured in latest Everytrail guides

The Trail of the Couer d' Alenes, a paved path that runs for 72 miles from the backwoods of northern Idaho to the shores of beautiful Lake Couer d' Alene is one of two featured trails on both Everytrail and trailsnet.com.

Bikers rest outside one of ten tunnels
 found along the Route of the Hiawatha
  bicycle trail in northern Idaho.

This trail is famous for it's perfectly sloped grade and smooth surface. It is ideal for inline skating, recumbent cycles, bikes, and Trikkes. If your idea of a good time is bumping and bouncing over tree roots, rocks, and ruts or constantly avoiding deadly encounters with cars, then you might not like this trail. But For the rest of us, the Trail of the Couer d' Alenes is paradise on earth.

The other trail featured this month is the Route of the Hiawatha, another great northern Idaho trail. It is not paved, like the Couer d' alene trail, but it has some of the greatest trail tunnels and trestles anywhere in the world. It is also rife with wildlife, history, and bodacious scenery.

Visit trailsnet and Everytrail to view these two great Idaho trails and start planning your trail trip today.

Idaho trails featured in latest Everytrail guides

Trikkes are good for paved or cement trails

Trikke Skki

Today's post is from our human powered vehicle files.

I had the pleasure to spend last weekend in Las Vegas trying out the full line of Trikke vehicles. This included the Trikke Skki, the Trikke Pon-e, and the full line of Trikke carving vehicles.

Trikke hybrid electric/
body powered vehicle

We started the Trikke Academy up near Mt. Charleston outside Las Vegas where we had the opportunity to carve the snows of Ski Las Vegas on the Trikke Skki. It was an absolute blast coming down the hill on this 3-ski toy that is quite easy to learn and very stable. I would say that a complete novice to skiing or snowboarding could learn to operate a Skki within a couple hours and by the end of the day, could be bombing the hill on their own. It has a much faster learning curve than skiing or snowboarding.

Trikke T78 body
powered vehicle

The Trikke Pon-e is a hybrid vehicle that combines electric power with human power for a smooth and enjoyable ride. Depending on trail regulations, it could handle most multi-use trails with few problems.

The Trikke human-powered, three-wheeled carving vehicles are a little more difficult to learn, but are fun on roads, paved paths, and parking lots. They definitely require some lessons and practice to really master, but they are a good work-out and a lot of fun.

Trikkes are good for paved or cement trails